Covenant News at www.covchurch.org

Dr. Jean C. Lambert Receives Lambert Award

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (June 15) - Dr. Jean C. Lambert is this year's recipient of the Irving C. Lambert Award, which recognizes excellence in support of urban and ethnic ministries.

The award, named in honor of her father, is administered by the Urban Commission through the Department of Church Growth & Evangelism of the Evangelical Covenant Church. It was presented during this morning's business session of the 121st Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.

Lambert has enjoyed a distinguished career as a teacher and pastor not only in the United States, but also abroad.

In presenting the award, President Glenn Palmberg said "it is particularly meaningful for me to be presenting this award to Irving Lambert's daughter." He noted the many ways in which Lambert has served the needs of others worldwide and has influenced so many lives.

Dr. Jean C. Lambert The commemorative plaque presented to Lambert reads,

In grateful recognition of your commitment and dedication to the cause of Christ in cities and among all sorts and conditions of people. From the early nurture of a small city congregation, you have shaped a life of ministry and friendship for all of God's children. You have dwelt comfortably in the borderlands of the human family, among people of different races, cultural groups, and social classes. All alike have been touched by your ministry.

From New York to Zimbabwe, from Kansas City to Stockholm, you have exercised your gifts as teacher, pastor, writer, and friend. In all things you have shown intelligence, wisdom, and generosity. Your life stands as a witness to us all.

Lambert was ordained in 1982. She earned a Bachelors Degree in History at North Park College, a Master of Arts in Theology at Union Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion at Union Columbia University.

Lambert taught seminary level classes in the United States and Zimbabwe. Her career began at the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1976-1984. She fell in love with teaching in Zimbabwe, working there twice. She taught at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare from 1989-1991. She would return to Zimbabwe to teach at the new Africa University in Mutare from 1998 to 2005.

Students from across Africa matriculated in Mutare, where she taught theology and ethics. "A friend wanted me to teach at the university (in Mutare) because he wanted someone to take over his classes since he was retiring," Lambert says. She coordinated the spiritual formation program for all the students and wrote the curriculum, and planned worship for a local Methodist congregation, while teaching the art to others.

Lambert says she fell in love with Zimbabwe, where she not only taught, but since her first time in the country, has sponsored a young girl's education. "She's like my daughter even though she has parents," Lambert says.

Lambert rented a room above someone's house that was near the university. She became friends with the woman who worked at the house even before the woman had the girl.

She most recently taught a class at North Park Theological Seminary this past spring.

As with her teaching career, Lambert has been a pastor in the United States and overseas. She was pastor of Bethesda Covenant Church in New York, New York, from 1984 to 1988, and the pastor of the English-speaking congregation at Immanuelskyrkan in Stockholm, Sweden. A third of that congregation was from Uganda.

Lambert also served on the Covenant Board of Ordered Ministry, Board of Publications, and the Missouri Board of Planned Parenthood.

"I'm very sorry that pastor Willie Jemison couldn't be here," Lambert said in accepting the honor. "One of the best things my parents did was to host Urban and Ethnic Commission members one year. That commission knew how to eat, and my mother loved that. And they loved her cooking.

"Irving Lambert had unusual ideas about a lot of things, including heaven," she recalled. "He hoped he would one day be exploring the solar system without the aid of rockets or planes, leaping from planet to planet and exploring.

"But, there is another interesting thing about my father, she continued. "His desire was to be an 'includer' – he liked to include people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds in everything. He would approve of this year's theme – Every One to Every Where.

"I feel a little embarrassed receiving this award as I am his daughter," she said in closing. "But, I am reminded of a quote from former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir: 'Don't be so humble – you're not that great.' That's good for me to remember."

Past winners of the C. Irving Lambert award are:

2004 – Jim and Annette Anderson

Copyright 2005 The Evangelical Covenant Church   www.covchurch.org
5101 North Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 USA   +1 773 784 3000